SACRAMENTO — Ross Siragusa of The Kraft Heinz Company was recently elected the 2019-20 chair of the California League of Food Producers (CLFP).
Siragusa was elected chair at CLFP’s Annual Board of Directors meeting in late April in Carmel, CA. He is based out of Kraft Heinz’s office in Stockton, CA, and has been Head of Global Agriculture and Seed for the company since 2008 and was Director of Global Agriculture for the then HJ Heinz from 2008 to 2013. He also previously served as President of the California Tomato Growers Association from 2004 to 2008.
Michael Mariani, Mariani Packing Company, Inc. (Courtesy Photo)Kraft Heinz has seven manufacturing locations in California, including Escalon, Fresno, Irvine, San Diego, Stockton and Tulare. Products packed in these locations include sauces and soups, pouches and poly fill fruit drinks, powdered soft drinks, snack foods, parmesan and cheddar cheeses, sour cream, cottage cheese and cream cheese.
Other 2019-20 CLFP officers elected were Michael Mariani, Mariani Packing Company, Inc., Vacaville, CA, as first vice chair, and Patrick Ricchiuti, ENZO Olive Oil Company, Clovis, CA, as second vice chair. Nick Kastle, J.G. Boswell Tomato Co. LLC, Corcoran, CA, will continue as immediate past chair.
CLFP board of director members also were nominated to serve new and continued terms on the Executive Committee.
Nominated for 2019-2021 terms were: Tim Hamilton, ConAgra Brands, Inc., Oakdale, CA; Chris Rufer, The Morning Star Packing Company, Woodland, CA; Lily Chiem, Kagome, Inc., Los Banos, CA; P.J. Mecozzi, Del Mar Food Products Corp., Watsonville, CA; and Jim Lipman, California Olive Ranch, Chico, CA.
Patrick Ricchiuti, ENZO Olive Oil Company. (Courtesy Photo)Nominated to continue their terms for 2018-2020 were: Mike Smyth, Olam Spices & Vegetable Ingredients, Fresno, CA; Melvin Ward, Sunsweet Growers Inc., Yuba City, CA; Randy Rickert, Mizkan America, Inc., Stockton, CA; Matthew Reid, SupHerb Farms, Turlock, CA; Scott Woodard, Horizon Nut Company, Tulare, CA; and Jon Alby, Leprino Foods Company, Denver, CO.
Based in Sacramento, California, CLFP is an association representing the interests of food processors throughout California and works to help ensure a favorable and profitable business environment for its members and the food processing industry. CLFP members produce premium quality fruits, vegetables, juices, sauces, cheese and dairy products, snacks, nuts, seasonings and many other foods and beverages.
Each February, CLFP produces a Food Processing Expo, the largest event of its kind in the state.
For more information, visit www.clfp.com.
–California League of Food Producers
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